wipers skipping - just in case it helps someone!

[pipsyp]

Since getting my 2008 AH10, the drivers side wiper had always skipped.  The initial sweep was fine, but the return used to miss/skip over a fair section of screen to the point it was quite annoying when it rained/you washed your screen.

 

I initially put it down to the blade being bad (as they were the old frame style and clearly quite old) but changing it out (from the old style to aero blades) for a new one of the same 26" length it still skipped.  I figured it was either a weakness in the arm or perhaps some distortion of the screen.

 

I'd just lived with it up until now, but having recently had my windscreen replaced and it doing the exact same thing with fresh glass I thought I'd try something.

 

I replaced the original AR26U Bosch blade for it's 24" equivalent, figuring that the loss of an inch of wiping either end of the blade wouldn't be a huge loss it would be worth a try to see if the skipping stopped.  Well low and behold it did.  Now wipes perfectly with barely any difference in coverage.

 

Therefore if anyone experiences the same thing, can almost guarantee switching the driver's blade from 26 to 24" it'll sort it.  Certainly cheaper and less problem than trying to source a new wiper arm!

[Rojie]

19 hours ago, pipsyp said:

Since getting my 2008 AH10, the drivers side wiper had always skipped.  The initial sweep was fine, but the return used to miss/skip over a fair section of screen to the point it was quite annoying when it rained/you washed your screen.

 

I initially put it down to the blade being bad (as they were the old frame style and clearly quite old) but changing it out (from the old style to aero blades) for a new one of the same 26" length it still skipped.  I figured it was either a weakness in the arm or perhaps some distortion of the screen.

 

I'd just lived with it up until now, but having recently had my windscreen replaced and it doing the exact same thing with fresh glass I thought I'd try something.

 

I replaced the original AR26U Bosch blade for it's 24" equivalent, figuring that the loss of an inch of wiping either end of the blade wouldn't be a huge loss it would be worth a try to see if the skipping stopped.  Well low and behold it did.  Now wipes perfectly with barely any difference in coverage.

 

Therefore if anyone experiences the same thing, can almost guarantee switching the driver's blade from 26 to 24" it'll sort it.  Certainly cheaper and less problem than trying to source a new wiper arm!

 

This is extremely interesting.

Thank you.

 

Just today, I had my windscreen replaced (by Autoglass). A very interesting process it is too.

 

As my insurance was paying the bill for the screen, I elected to have the wipers replaced by Autoglass.

They were not cheap !

 

Despite a brand new screen (from Toyota) the new 26 inch blade was not sweeping the entire area of the drivers side.

Just as you describe. With hindsight, probably an MOT failure !

 

My previous old blades were refitted and there was almost no skipping !

 

The Autoglass technician, who was extremely capable, decided the skipping was unacceptable and has taken action for a refund to be issued.

 

I will be visiting Europarts or Halfords very soon and will certainly bear in mind your findings.

Thank you once again.

 

 

 

 

[John Harrison]

Hi. I have a 2008 2.4 Vellfire. When I bought it it had 26" and 16" blades. The 26" one was skipping. I changed the blades o 28" ones to cover more of the screen, which they sid but not a lot of difference.

When I looked at the actual blade, it wasn't square to the screen. I decided to bend the arm so it was parallel to the screen and blade was 90° to the screen. The wipers were then quiet and cleaned the whole of the screen. The other blade is a 16" (actually 15.5").

Over the years I have adjusted dozens of wipers like this for friends. The wipers seem to last longer too!

Also, it's amazing how many garages don't know how to adjust wipers!

John Harrison. Wirral.

PS. Lidl have Michelin wipers on offer now for 6.99 per blade...Time to stock up!!!

 

 

 

[Rojie]

2 hours ago, John Harrison said:

Hi. I have a 2008 2.4 Vellfire. When I bought it it had 26" and 16" blades. The 26" one was skipping. I changed the blades o 28" ones to cover more of the screen, which they sid but not a lot of difference.

When I looked at the actual blade, it wasn't square to the screen. I decided to bend the arm so it was parallel to the screen and blade was 90° to the screen. The wipers were then quiet and cleaned the whole of the screen. The other blade is a 16" (actually 15.5").

Over the years I have adjusted dozens of wipers like this for friends. The wipers seem to last longer too!

Also, it's amazing how many garages don't know how to adjust wipers!

John Harrison. Wirral.

PS. Lidl have Michelin wipers on offer now for 6.99 per blade...Time to stock up!!!

 

 

 

Perhaps garages do know how to adjust the blades, but prefer to sell you a new pair.

Perhaps me just being cynical !

 

[pipsyp]

On 10/7/2023 at 1:52 PM, Rojie said:

 

This is extremely interesting.

Thank you.

 

Just today, I had my windscreen replaced (by Autoglass). A very interesting process it is too.

 

As my insurance was paying the bill for the screen, I elected to have the wipers replaced by Autoglass.

They were not cheap !

 

Despite a brand new screen (from Toyota) the new 26 inch blade was not sweeping the entire area of the drivers side.

Just as you describe. With hindsight, probably an MOT failure !

 

My previous old blades were refitted and there was almost no skipping !

 

The Autoglass technician, who was extremely capable, decided the skipping was unacceptable and has taken action for a refund to be issued.

 

I will be visiting Europarts or Halfords very soon and will certainly bear in mind your findings.

Thank you once again.

 

 

 

 

No worries Rojie!  I had Autoglass as well, also a Toyota screen.  Cannot fault the service one bit, chap who did the work was wonderful and did a beautiful job.  I'll need a new DAB antenna at some point but just one of those things.

 

He told me something interesting that it somehow works out more cost effective for the main glass distributors to stock genuine Toyota glass than 3rd party made stuff so pretty much any time you get a screen changed in an Alphard it will be genuine glass.

 

Unfortunately mine has sprung a small leak so am going back to have it refitted this morning (again, same technician, contacted directly by his mobile no. Which he left me when doing the job and has literally done all the organising.  Unbelievable service).

 

I hope the wiper thing helps you out.  Interestingly mine didn't wipe properly before I switched to aero blades so I knew going back to the old school blades would've made no difference.

 

As @John Harrison mentions I am sure adjusting the physical arm would've had the same impact and so could have retained the 26" blade but not knowing what I am doing, didn't fancy it in case I made it worse.  What is also interesting is that my wipers were quite noisy and clattered in use previously which they now don't with the smaller driver's blade.  For the loss of a couple of inches of wiping (which in recent torrential rain I've not noticed one bit) its a good result 👍

[Rojie]

5 hours ago, pipsyp said:

No worries Rojie!  I had Autoglass as well, also a Toyota screen.  Cannot fault the service one bit, chap who did the work was wonderful and did a beautiful job.  I'll need a new DAB antenna at some point but just one of those things.

 

He told me something interesting that it somehow works out more cost effective for the main glass distributors to stock genuine Toyota glass than 3rd party made stuff so pretty much any time you get a screen changed in an Alphard it will be genuine glass.

 

Unfortunately mine has sprung a small leak so am going back to have it refitted this morning (again, same technician, contacted directly by his mobile no. Which he left me when doing the job and has literally done all the organising.  Unbelievable service).

 

I hope the wiper thing helps you out.  Interestingly mine didn't wipe properly before I switched to aero blades so I knew going back to the old school blades would've made no difference.

 

As @John Harrison mentions I am sure adjusting the physical arm would've had the same impact and so could have retained the 26" blade but not knowing what I am doing, didn't fancy it in case I made it worse.  What is also interesting is that my wipers were quite noisy and clattered in use previously which they now don't with the smaller driver's blade.  For the loss of a couple of inches of wiping (which in recent torrential rain I've not noticed one bit) its a good result 👍

 

My wipers are fine now.

 

Autoglass guarantee their work, so it is reassuring they will fix your leak for free.